National Maritime Museum to host free International Slavery Remembrance Day programme in Greenwich

Fahad Redha

August 3, 2026
2 min read

National Maritime Museum to host free International Slavery Remembrance Day programme in Greenwich

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich will open its doors for a free public programme on 23 August to mark International Slavery Remembrance Day, inviting visitors to explore how remembrance can contribute to conversations about historical injustice, reparative practice and social justice.

Events will take place across the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House and the Caird Library, bringing together artists, filmmakers, researchers and community practitioners for a day of discussion, creative activity and public engagement.

Rather than focusing solely on commemoration, the programme will examine how museums, archives and cultural organisations can help people engage with the lasting impact of slavery and empire. Through a range of activities, visitors will be encouraged to consider how collections, artistic practice and public dialogue can shape understanding of the past while informing conversations about the present.

The day’s programme will include workshops, talks, film screenings, performances and artist-led sessions, with themes spanning memory, resistance, cultural heritage, collecting practices and the continuing legacy of slavery.

Drawing on material from the National Maritime Museum’s own collections, the event will also explore the different ways histories connected to slavery are interpreted, questioned and re-examined within museums today.

International Slavery Remembrance Day is observed each year on 23 August. The date commemorates the uprising that began in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, in 1791 and recognises the resistance shown by enslaved people around the world.

The programme is free to attend. Further details are available from the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

Visitors interested in Greenwich’s cultural programme may also wish to read EyeOnLondon’s coverage of the National Maritime Museum’s Caribbean Takeover event and the display of the 1776 American Independence report in Greenwich.

Planning to attend this free event in Greenwich? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow EyeOnLondon for more London culture, history and museum news.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.